How it Works

It all starts with the GORE® Cover System

As the only Authorized GORE® Cover Sales and Service Provider for North America, Sustainable Generation delivers not only first hand owner/operator knowledge but also the reliability of the proven GORE® Cover System:

Watch a quick presentation on how GORE® works. +

+

GORE® Cover

The GORE® Cover is centered on membrane laminate technology similar to that of the company’s world famous GORE-TEX® fabric used in outerwear and footwear. The microporous membrane impacts air permeability and the extraction of moisture during composting – it prevents the compost from becoming too dry or too wet and it retains odors. It allows for an even distribution of air, thus ensuring optimal temperatures are achieved throughout the heaps.

Official certificates and approvals have been granted to the GORE® Cover for:

  • Delivering “in-vessel” performance (without the need for a building or roofed structure) in the United States and Canada
  • Meeting strict PFRP and high quality compost standards
  • Meeting strict regulatory emissions compliance standards worldwide.
+

Blower

Each heap has forced aeration through a blower that provides air to the composting material via the aeration trenches. The blower is regulated by the control system, so it automatically cycles on and off. The control system constantly monitors the oxygen and temperature in the heaps to create an optimal environment for the microbes to do their work by controlling the amount of oxygen in the heaps.

+

Control System

The control system monitors oxygen and temperature within the heaps to create an optimal environment for the microbes by controlling the amount of oxygen. This technology also makes for the most cost-efficient processing. The covered aerated static pile design has lower energy consumption compared to negative aeration, reverse aeration and timed positive aired systems. It also reduces or eliminates the need for a costly, high-energy consumption biofilter.

The software system automatically gathers all the necessary regulatory data. It monitors temperatures by date, time and heap to produce regulatory reports that help make the compliance reporting process very simple.

+

Aeration & Leachate System

Composting is a biological process with naturally occurring batch-by-batch variations in input material. The oxygen-controlled positive aeration system automatically adapts the aeration intensity to these batch variations and to the changing oxygen demand in the course of a composting cycle. Two aeration trenches are under each heap. These trenches serve as ducts to provide air to the heap and also to collect leachate coming from the heap.

Leachate is effectively managed in two ways: Separation of stormwater from leachate – is achieved by physically covering the organic material with the GORE® Cover and sealing it to the ground. Leachate collection – is collected under the heaps by the trenching system and directed, by drainage piping, to a holding system for treatment, reuse or discharge.

On their own, compost piles can cause unpleasant odors and emit harmful emissions such as VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and GHGs (greenhouse gases)...
…contribute to groundwater contamination…
…and at commercial sites, take up a lot of space and cause inconsistencies in production.
The GORE® Cover is different.
It is a high tech composting solution that begins with the microporous GORE® cover itself…
…and a system that helps exponentially accelerate the natural composting process through positive aeration.
To maintain an optimal environment, in all climate conditions, the control system monitors oxygen and temperature in the heaps…
…and a blower automatically injects air through the floor, when necessary, to assure ideal conditions.
The aeration ducts and leachate collection system keep the air flowing and provides a clear separation of leachate from stormwater to prevent groundwater contamination.
In up to 8 weeks, the result is valuable, nutrient-rich compost.